I've waited long enough... time to talk Dance Moms

Alright, I have been faithfully watching Dance Moms since it began about 3 months ago.  I hurry home Wednesday nights so that I can flip on my DVR and watch the newest shananagons of the Abby Lee Dance Company... but I didn't want to post on it until I had more to grasp then just a few episodes. I've come up with some conclussions:

1. these mothers are bat shit crazy.  I mean, I've got to be honest with you... If one of the mothers in my studio acted like that to me they'd be out on their ass before they even had time to close their mouth.  I'm praying that some of this is scripted for ratings because these woman say some of the dumbest things ever.

2. Cathy... come on REALLY?!  She puts a bad flip on all dance studio owners simply because she's a nut job.  Who the hell has time to look on the schedule of a competition, steal a song, and teach your dancer (who sucked anyway) a new solo?!  And NEWSFLASH: your daughter doesn't want to dance... she's gonna end up hating dance and you!

3. Debate: do you think these kids have learned these dances ahead of time, and for ratings they're saying their learning new ones?  I hope so... I just don't get the point of stressing out the kids and parents like that.

4.  WHO THE HELL IS PAYING FOR ALL OF THIS????  I have some amazing moms that have no problem shelling out $50 for rhinestones on a costume, or traveling to a nationals every few years, or paying for extra rehearsals, but traveling 5 weeks straight all over the country?!  And who lets their kids skip this much school?  More importantly, does anyone feel like they always arrive at competition like 10 seconds before they're supposed to dance... get a clue ladies, MOVE YOUR CALL TIME UP! 

5. I've saved this one for last: I think Abby Lee is brilliant.  I truly believe in my heart that she's doing what's best for those kids... she just doesn't always "deliver" it in the best way.  The only thing I really disagree with is her little pyramid system... other then that, she's my idol :)   She's producing brilliant performers who are working after they graduate... if that's not what you want for your kid, or you think it comes at too high of a price in time and finances and emotional strain: GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.  Every studio owner is not right for every student... if you don't like her product, don't purchase it... but you also can't expect the results she gives.

There... I feel better now.

Happy Friday :)

Hello Strangers...

2 and a half months since my last blog post... woops!

Since then I have:

*Choreographed 51 pieces of choreo
*Taken a 10 day trip with my entire family
*Opened up another season of the studio
*Coached PVP to an amazing summer camp championship
*Taught and rehearsed a Christmas show through the summer
*Started a Pampered Chef business
*Hired some amazing teachers
*Had our first benefit concert for GIFT
*Celebrated 6 years of marriage with my wonderful husband

And most importantly
*Learned that the summer and beginning of fall is a crappy time to attempt to keep up a blog :)

From here on out, updates at least weekly :)

Finally Friday

Short blog post today, just to update you on the week.

I've taken an entire bottle of ibuprofen, used 5 bengay patchs, and said about a million curse words trying to get my body to stop aching, but in return I've spent a week watching some amazing pieces of choreography come to life.  I've gotten to spend time with some AMAZINGLY talented kids who more importantly are just great kids, that I love and adore more with each passing day.  I've gotten to spend the week working along side the most talented teachers in the world including my sister, my best friend, and my cousin.  I've gotten to even sit back on my lunch break today and reflect on this studio and realize how lucky I am to watch my dream unfold in front of my face every single day. 

I guess in the grand scheme of things, Ibuprofen is cheap, right? 

Happy weekend :)

"Hey Mom!"

I'm in the middle of Hell week... also know as choreography week 1.  It's wonderful, I'm just sore and a little tired, and missing my kiddos a bit at this point.  Anyway, even though this week is insanity, I had to post about Sam's comment this morning.

We're sitting on the couch and he says to me "Hey Mom, what's that black stuff in your eye?", I thought he meant my eyelashes to which he responded "Mom, I know what eyelashes look like... really there's something black in there!" so I of course go up to the mirror thinking there's something in my eye, and realize he's talking about my pupil... so I say "buddy, do you mean my pupil?!" and he gets a horrified look on his face and says "WHY IS THERE A PUKE BOWL IN YOUR EYE?!"

Oh Sammy :)

It's Monday!

Monday Monday Monday

" Never see success as a goal you pursue. It always comes from the back door when we derive happiness from what we know how to do best."

This quote is in honor of our nationals trip this week... I wish I could put into words how proud I am of the 2011 competitive team,  but it's simply not possible.  

Get out there and do what you do, with a passion you have burning in every single ounce of your being.  We'll be successful no matter what :)

Love you all.

Motivational Monday

Motivational Monday

"The test of courage comes when we're the minority.  The test of tolerance comes when we're the majority."

~ Ralph Stockman


Over the course of my lifetime, I've been deemed an "opinionated person"... There's few topics of conversation I don't have an opinion on, and when asked I've never been shy about sharing my opinion of something.  HOWEVER... I am not sure if it's my age, my point in life, or what, but over the past few months I've found myself getting frustrated with people that are intolerant of others.  Don't get me wrong there are certain things that I don't tolerate well, but I have noticed more and more people that when someones opinions don't match up exactly with theirs it's like it's the end of the world. 

I've noticed it on a national level: The Brown family from the TLC show Sister Wives... They're a polygamist family:  SO WHAT!?  It's the lifestyle they chose to live.  Would I want to share my husband with 3 other woman and have my children have 18 siblings, no, but that's the religion they were raised in.  And on 19 Kids and Counting... The Duggar Family chose to have as many children as God would allow them to have.  Would I want 19 children??  You must be out of your damn mind, but it works for them.  Her uterous has got to be about to fall out of her by now, but she loves her children, they're well fed, clean, and always have a friend around.  Who are we to judge what they do?  There's some people in the world that should have NEVER been allowed to have one child, but again, that's not our call.

I've also noticed it when tragedy strikes:  In the aftermath of Joplin tornados, I was reading an article about the devistation and I was shocked and saddened by some of the comments about how "if those hilbilly people knew how to make it to the basement they'd still be alive" or "It's like the tornados knew what they were doing because they only ruined the poor people's houses"  HONESTLY?!  How indecent can you be?  Whether those people had a million dollar home or were renting a home off of a fixed income, it was their HOME.  It was torn from them with not enough warning and how dare people blame any of what mother nature created on the poor people that suffered her rampage.

I think the thing that is the worst is that we all do it.  We naturally judge everything around us... it's human nature.  All that I'm saying is although I think it's imparative that everyone has their own voice and their own opinion, we need to really watch how and when we speak it.  Tolerance is an artform.  One that unfortunitely is not being practiced too often anymore...

Happy Monday :)

Thankful TH-Friday...

I had all good intentions of getting this up yesterday, but I was sick as a dog and am just now feeling like I can at least halfway function!

Today I'm so Thankful for a man that has been such an inspiration for so many people for a lot of years.

I totally stole this picture from his facebook profile :)

Mike Gowdy is a friend of a friend... someone I saw at birthday parties, or cookouts, or first communions.  We always got along well, had a good time, and laughed a lot.  Since the developement of facebook, we've talked a lot more... gotta love social networking :)

Well a few days ago, Mike came up with a plan to head to Joplin to help the tornado victims there.  What an amazing idea... only to be executed by Mike Gowdy!  I always knew he was a nice guy, but what a selfless act for him to drop everything and head down to help people he's never even met.

We were all so excited that we wanted to help, so our studio raised $400 to send with him.  Along with our contribution, other friends of Mike's gave him supplies, money, and prayers and his plan is to go to Joplin and simply help whoever he can.

So today I am thankful for you Mike Gowdy, for you are living the golden rule, Treat others as you wish to be treated.  I am thankful there are still people in the world that have a heart of gold and you give me hope that my children will live a better life because of people like you.

Have a blessed weekend!